Beijing served up a mixed grill from US

China is bracing for the Trump administration to unleash another $US200 billion ($280bn) in tariffs on more than 1000 items.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Picture: AFP

China is grappling with conflicting signals from Donald Trump: bracing for the US to unleash ­another $US200 billion ($280bn) in tariffs while fielding an offer of a second round of trade talks in Washington.

The Washington Post and other US media reported at the weekend that a new round of US tariffs on more than 1000 Chinese goods — including smart phones, televisions and toys — could be announced within days.

Reports are that the US could start with imposing new tariffs of about 10 per cent in the next few weeks — less than the 25 per cent threatened by the US President early last month.

While the 10 per cent is lower than the threatened 25 per cent, the Chinese had been hoping the invitation late last week from Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin for talks at the end of the month meant Washington would hold off any new tariffs.

Mr Mnuchin wants to hold further talks before the new tranche of tariffs is imposed, but Mr Trump — apparently happy to have China as a permanent political whipping boy — then escal­ated the trade war, cutting his Treasury Secretary’s diplomatic outreach off at the knees.

“We are under no pressure to make a deal with China, they are under pressure to make a deal with us,” Mr Trump tweeted.

“Our markets are surging, theirs are collapsing. We will soon be taking in billions in tariffs and making products at home. If we meet, we meet?”

US reports say Mr Trump is keen to have the new round of tariffs in place well before the mid-term congressional elections in November, and will retain the right to raise them to 25 per cent if the US feels it is not getting sufficient concessions.

White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said the President was clear that he and his ­administration would continue to take action to address China’s trade practices. “We encourage China to address the longstanding concerns raised by the US,’’ she said.

US-based China watchdog Sinocism said the “reversal by tweet” of the offer for talks had “shredded any remaining credibility that Mnuchin had in ­Beijing”. “Unless the Chinese are hearing directly from Trump or other top members of his inner circle (about the prospect of more talks), they are going to be very wary,” it said.

Both China and the US have imposed tariffs of up to 25 per cent on $US50bn of each other’s goods with China arguing that the issues should be resolved with more face-to-face negotiations.

China last week welcomed news the US wanted another round of talks with Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, saying the logistics of the visit were under discussion. “China ­always believes that escalating trade conflict serves no one’s interests,” Mr Geng said.

He noted Chinese and US officials had talk over the issue since last month’s talks in Washington between Mr Mnuchin and Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen.

China hopes the Trump ­administration’s aggression will be tempered by complaints from US companies doing business with China concerned at the long-term impacts of an escalating trade war. The American Chamber of Commerce in China and the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai last week released a joint survey of members expressing concern about the ­adverse impact of the new tariffs.

More than 60 per cent said the initial $US50bn round of tariffs was already hurting their business. “The US administration runs the risk of a downward spiral of attack and counter attack, benefiting no one,” said AmCham China chairman William Zarit.